Penticton

Baby horse in bad shape

The third baby horse in almost as many weeks shows the growing problem of feral horses in the Penticton and Summerland area.

The latest in a series of baby feral horses rescued near Penticton is teetering on the brink of death.

This colt is the third baby horse rescued in the past month and is the second one taken in by Theresa Nolet of O.A.T.S. Horse Rescue.

"It's going as well as can be expected right now," she said. "He will have to get a blood transfusion because he did not get the colostrum from his mom."

The colostrum passes on antibodies to the baby which help combat diseases and it boosts the immune system.

The colt also suffered some physical injuries to his neck and legs.

"He's got puncture wounds on his neck, what is called edema, or fluid under the skin in his stomach area and he may have damage to one of his left legs," she said.

"No one witnessed it, but we are assuming either a dog or a coyote."

Photo: Contributed - Shelly White

Puncture wounds on the colt's neck could be from a dog or a coyote.

The colt requires nearly constant care to stay alive. Nolet is currently sleeping in a cot beside him so she can feed him every hour.

"I'm tired, I have two little babies here that need lots of attention," she said, referring to the other colt she is caring for, which was born in someone's back yard a couple of weeks ago.

The colt is heading back to the vet this week for a more thorough examination. Nolet said his chances of survival change on a day-to-day basis, but if he makes it through the next month or two, he will be available for adoption.

Nolet is hoping the Penticton Indian Band and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen can come to some resolution other than sending the horses to slaughter.

She feels that just putting a fence up to keep them in one area and to keep birthing mares away from stallions would be good steps towards controlling the issue of feral horses.

"The owners of these horses may not want to give up the income of sending the horses to slaughter," she said. "But that income comes at other people's emotional and physical expense. I even have a dent in my vehicle from a young one getting rambunctious - I don't mind, but lots of people do."

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